Breathing new life into our heritage

GREATER Geelong is home to an impressive array of heritage places that contribute to our region’s unique character and rich history.

I had the pleasure of attending the annual Geelong Heritage Awards on Wednesday evening, an event dedicated to celebrating the innovative and engaging projects that are actively conserving and breathing new life into these heritage places.

As the Chair of the Geelong Heritage Advisory Committee, I relished the opportunity to celebrate such high-calibre projects.

Every project demonstrated remarkable craftsmanship, a strong commitment to sustainability, and an imaginative approach to conservation, restoration and adaptive reuse over the past year.

Through their work, they are not only preserving our rich history but also ensuring its enjoyment by future generations.

The ‘Restoration of a Heritage Place’ Award, which recognises best-practice work that returns a building’s fabric to a known earlier state, was awarded to the property at 164 Bellarine Street, Geelong.

The Federation styled timber bakery was built in 1892, where Charles Newbury sold cheap bread for four pence a loaf.

The site is one of very few surviving commercial premises of the Federation era in central Geelong.

Careful attention to detail was used to resurrect the beautiful façade, returning the shop to its former glory.

In Geelong West, an innovative project at 66 Elizabeth Street has seen a 101-year-old brick shopfront transformed.

Tsai Design and CTM Modern Construction retained the building’s original character while adding a new façade wall. The result is a vibrant and adaptable space that now functions as both a studio and a residential dwelling.

Also in Geelong West, a private residence on Avon Street was recognised in the ‘New Work in a Heritage Overlay’ category.

Designer Tim Adams of F2 Design and builder Brady Lane were commended for their modern restoration of a home originally built in 1889.

The transformation celebrates the dwelling’s modest Victorian character facing the street, while providing a respectful, distinctive and sustainable rear addition.

In Newtown, a unique project by Charles Maccora Design transformed a brick garage that formed part of the Hendra Estate built in 1891 into an integral part of a new residential home. The contemporary alteration and addition offer a remarkable juxtaposition, proving that heritage values and cutting-edge design can work together to achieve outstanding results.

And over in North Geelong, the Glass House – formerly Pilkington Factory – has been awarded for its ‘Creative Reuse of a Heritage Place’.

In recent years, the factory has undergone substantial internal transformation while celebrating its clever and creative exterior.

Hamilton Group employed Another Dimension Building Design to transform the former glass factory into a commercial use area, which will ensure this iconic building has a long-term future.

Excellence in preserving Geelong’s rich heritage was also celebrated in other interpretations at the awards.

Online, the Geelong Historical Society has transformed its website from a static page into a vibrant, multimedia resource for both members and the wider community.

In academia, PhD candidate Donya Masoomi Khameneh received the Next Generation award for her research examining the evolution of heritage perception in Geelong’s wholesale landscape.

Geoff Sanders was also honoured with the Jennifer Bantow OAM individual award for his long and distinguished contribution to the creative and sensitive adaptation of Geelong’s heritage buildings.

This work, and the dedication shown by all Heritage Award winners, is truly inspiring.

It is fantastic to see architects, designers, builders and tradespeople collaborating on such exciting projects that successfully conserve our heritage for years to come.

They are not merely preserving buildings – they are ensuring our rich history can be actively appreciated and enjoyed by future generations.

Cr Rowan Story

Murradoc Ward,

City of Greater Geelong